Combination package



P 1953 G. T. PFEIFER 2,652,148

COMBINATION PACKAGE Filed Dec. 9, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 igy/ INVENTOR.

wv m Sept. 15, 1953 G. T. PFEIFER 2,652,148

COMBINATION PACKAGE Filed Dec. 9, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wk 22 20 2/ :5S; 5

INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATIGN PACKAGEApplication December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,138

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates, generally, to packaging in rigid containersmaterials which must be kept from directly contacting the interiorurface of the containers, and the invention relates, particularly, toinnovations and new and useful improvements which permit materials to becanned in containers which are conventionally known as tin cans usingstandard auto-- matic sealing machines, with the contents beingmaintained out of direct contact with the interior of the tin cans byliners of suitable impermeable plastic film material.

The tin can container, and automatic machinery and techniques forpackaging various materials therein, have been perfected to a very highdegree in this country. Among the outstanding advantages of tin cans ascontainers are: (1) low cost of the cans; (2) low unit cost and theconvenience of automatically filling and sealing the can using efficientautomatic machinery; and (3) the non-frangible character of the tin canand the relatively large degree of rough handling and shock which thetin can package can safely withstand.

Despite the above and other practical advantages and desirablecharacteristics of tin cans as containers, there were prior to thisinvention many materials which could not be satisfactorily packaged intin cans. Thus, on the one hand there are many substances and materialswhich are corrosive with respect to the tin plate from which the tincans are formed, while on the other hand, there are other substances andmaterials which cannot tolerate direct contact with the tin plate.

It is known that special enamels and lacquers have been developed forlining tin cans so as to permit packaging of materials therein (e. g.beer) which could not otherwise be packaged satisfactorily in tin cans.These special enamels or lacquers must be carefully applied, usually inseveral coats, and the cost of the cans is thereby increasedconsiderably. The lacquer and enamel linings have proven to be only apartial solution to the problem of packaging materials in tin cans,which material must for one reason or another be maintained out ofdirect contact with the can interior.

In view of the known resistance and tolerance of various knownimpermeable plastic film materials to many of the substances andmaterials which normally cannot be packaged in direct contact with theinterior of tin cans, eiforts have been made to use such plastic filmsas separate sack or bag type containers which are sealed by themselvesand then packed and sealed in tin cans. This type of packaging in tincans constitutes only a partial solution to the problem and is notcompletely satisfactory for several reasons. Special machinery andtechniques are required for first filling and sealing the plastic filmbags before they are inserted in the tin cans and. these are sealed.Thus, the cost of this type of package is materially increased since itactually involves two distinct and separate packaging operations. Theloose, separately sealed plastic bags do not completely fill theinterior of the tin can containers and the potential capacity of the tincans is only partially utilized and the efficiency of the package iscorrespondingly reduced, further adding to the packaging cost. The loosebags are free to shake and move around within the sealed tin cans andsince the film walls of the sacks are unsupported, rough handling of thetin can containers and the consequent tumbling or slipping around of theloose sacks causes rupturing of the sacks with resultant spoilage ofthose packages.

The tin cans containing the unanchored or loose plastic bags or sacksare awkward to handle at the time of opening. Thus, the tin cancontainer first has to be opened by removing one of the ends so as topermit removal of the filled sack or bag therefrom. Then the sack has tobe punctured or opened in some way to discharge its contents. When thematerial packaged is a liquid, it is difficult to empty the plastic bagwithout some spilling of the liquid on the hands or over the surroundingarea. Furthermore, it is not practical to rinse out the bags so as toobtain all of the contents therefrom.

The present invention permits impermeable plastic films to be used asliner for the interior of tin cans in such a way as to eliminate theabove and other difiiculties and objections associated with priormethods of using plastic films to shield or isolate the contents of tincans from the interior surfaces thereof.

An important object of the invention is a sealed container and packagewherein the interior surface of the container is completely lined withstretchable, impermeable film or sheet which is attached to thecontainer structure around the periphery of a sealed opening forming oneof the end walls of the container.

An important object of the invention is a sealed container, and apackage formed by the sealing of contents therewithin, which containercomprises a conventional type tin can which is completely lined with aclosely conforming film or sheet of impermeable and stretchable materialcapable of isolating the contents from the interior surface of the can,which lining is attached to the tin can around at least one of theopposite ends of the tin can along the line of the endless sealed seamor joint between the end wall of the can and the adjacent rim thereof.

Still another important object of the invention is a sealed tin can typecontainer and sealed package wherein the container comprises an ordinarytype tin can, such as is used for canning food products, having animpermeable plastic film liner capable of shielding and isolating thecontents of the can from the total interior surface thereof, the lining,in part taking the form of a sack or bag of the impermeable plastic filmor sheet material, e. g., polyethylene, which is inserted into the opencan so as to conform to the interior thereof with the peripheral edge ofthe bag opening overlying the rim or flange of the can, and the interiorlining being completed by a separate piece or end piece liner of theplastic sheet or film which covers the end wall of the tin can whichcloses the open end thereof, with the peripheral edge of the end pieceliner and the peripheral edge of the top opening of the sack or bagbeing crimped together into a sealed joint in the joint or seam formedbetween the end cover of the can and the rim thereof, the end piece ofplastic film being drawn taut or stretched across-the end of th can.

Still another object of the invention is the method of forming a sealedcontainer and package wherein the interior is lined with a protectivestretchable, impervious film or sheet by inserting a sack formed of suchfilm material having desired properties into an open tin can so that thesack covers the interior thereof and the peripheral edge of the mouthopening of the sack extends over the lip or rim formed around the mouthof the can, filling the lined can with the material to be packagedtherein, such as a corrosive chemical, covering the mouth of the filledcan with a cover liner in the form of a separate piece of the filmmaterial large enough to at least extend over the lip or rim thereof andfit over th edge of the sack opening, and sealing or closing the tin canin conventional manner using known type sealing machinery wherein theengaging edges of the sack and the cover of plastic film material arecaught and included in the seam or joint formed between the cover of thecan and the rim thereof with the separate piece of film being stretchedtaut or tight across the inner surface of the can cover or end.

A further important object of the invention is a tin can type packagecontaining two different materials separately packaged therein andmaintained out of contact with each other and the walls and ends of thetin can by protective, stretchable, impermeable film liners, one of thepackaged materials being confined in a sack, formed of the impermeableliner material, which only partly fills the tin can and the otherpackaged material being confined in another sack formed of impermeableliner material, which fills the remainder of the can, the package beingformed by inserting one of the sacks into a can open at both ends, sothat the bag opening overlaps the rim of the can at one end, whereuponthe bag is filled with one of the materials, a separate piece of theliner material is laid over the end of the can and the end of the can isapplied so as to crimp the film material of the sack and end liner intothe double seam which is formed, whereupon the other sack or bag isinserted in the opposite end of the can and this end is filled andclosed in the same manner.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious andwill, in part, appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of theinvention, reference may now :be had to the following detaileddescription thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in vertical section of a tin canpackage forming one embodiment of th invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the tin can package ofFig. 1 after it has been opened by a beer can type can opener;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the top portion of atin can having a sack or bag type liner inserted therein with its openend overlapping the rim of the can, this being the first step in formingthe tin can package of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views showing,respectively, the three successive steps involved in closing and sealingthe tin can package shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly broken away at the mid-portion, ofa tin can package forming another embodiment of the invention containingtwo separately packaged materials.

In Fig. l the reference numeral I 0 designates a conventional type tincan such as is used in canning food products using automatic conveying,filling, and sealing machines. The can Ill is formed of tin plate and itmay be cylindrically or otherwise shaped. The bottom end of the can 10is closed by an end piece I l which is joined to the side wall or sleeveportion of the can In at the double seam which is indicated at i2. Thetop end of the can I0 is closed by a cover or end piece [3 also joinedto the top rim of the can by the double seam indicated at it. Tin cansare usually purchased in the form of the open containers or cups withaccompanying caps or covers therefor.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the flange or rim extending aroundthe mouth of the open can [0 is indicated at l5, and th cover or cap l3of known conventional type having an annular curl portion l8 which fitsover the rim or flange [5.

The can [0 and the cap or cover l3 are of known commercial type and areillustrative of the tin cans available in this country for commercialpackaging.

The first step in packaging in accordance with the present invention isto insert a sack or bag ll formed of impermeable stretchable film, e. g.polyethylene, into the can if] as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that itconforms to the side walls and bottom end of the interior thereof withthe peripheral mouth edge portion [8 overlying the rim or lip l5 asshown.

After the plastic film bag or sack I! has been inserted in place asdescribed, either manually, or by machine, the can I0 is filled with thematerail to be packaged such as one of the solutions used in connectionwith the development of photographic films and which solution cannot bepackaged satisfactorily in unlined tin cans. Automatic machines areknown and available for filling the can ID with the liquid or othermaterial to be packaged. After being filled, the cans H] are passed byconveyor from the automatic filling machine to an automatic sealingmachine, of known commercial type. Before the filled cans in reach thesealing machine, a disk or cover liner of stretchable, impervious filmor sheet material is placed over the mouth of the can so that theperipheral margin 2| of the liner 2U overlies the peripheral edge E8 ofthe mouth opening of the bag 51. The cans It, thus filled, and coveredwith the cover liner 20, pass into the automatic sealing machineswherein the cover it is dropped in place and the curl l6 and the rim orlip it are first rolled together and then flattened so as to form thestandard double seam type of joint.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there is illustrated the result of the firstoperation in the sealing machine wherein the curl l 6 on the cover It!and the rim or flange l5 are rolled into position to be flattened. Itwill be seen that the peripheral edge 22 of the curl it is rolled so asto hook underneath the flange or lip l5 which has been downwardly curvedand shaped, with the peripheral portions is and 2! of the liner bag I!and the cap liner 20, respectively, being caught or gathered in betweenthe curl portion [6 and the flange i5.

In the next operation, the partially formed seam or joint shown in Fig.4 is flattened so as to complete the joint or connection which iscommonly known as a double seam.

In the double seam Ml formed as shown in Fig. 6, there are four placesat which double thickness of the film material forming the sack l? andthe cover liner 26 are compressed together. These four places areindicated in Fig. 6 by the letters A, B, C and D.

During the formationof the double seam M the curl portion l6 and the lipor flange l5 are .1

subjected to drawing and tension and the peripheral edges 18 and. 2! ofthe impermeable film material are also placed under tension or stretch.In this way the cover liner 20 is stretched taut or tight underneath theend cover it.

It is essential that the impermeable film material be able to withstandwithout tearing the stretching, or deforming operation which isassociated with the sealing of the cans M on automatic sealing machines,as described above. There are a number of plastic film materials whichare available in sheet form which have the necessary amount of toughnessand elasticity to withstand this stretching action and which have theother properties necessary to serve as the tin can liners. Among thematerials which have been found suitable for use as the stretchable,impermeable bag type liner ll and the cover liner 2d are: polyethylene,saran, vinylidene chloride, polystyrene, rubber, and stretchable,impregnated fabrics.

The seal formed between the peripheral edges i8 and 2! of theimpermeable film liners is leakproof and the sealed tin can Ill is, ineffect, lined with a continuous, unbroken lining or envelope which isfully supported by the side and end walls of the tin can. It will beseen that the normal full capacity of the tin can is completelyutilized.

The sealed tin cans or packages made in accordance with this inventionmay be easily and conveniently opened with a beer can Or oil can type ofcan opener. In Fig. 2 the manner in which the sealed can in may be soopened is illustrated. The can opener punctures the can cap or cover itin two places so as to form the downwardly bent triangular portions andthe formation of these triangular metal portions 25 results in thesimultaneously puncturing of the tightly stretched film liner 20 so asto form tri- 6 angular portions 26-26. The remainder of the tightlydrawn membrane or cover liner 20 remains intact, as shown. The contentsof the container may be emptied out of one of the open-' ings thusformed, and rinsing liquid or watermay be run into the empty can andswished around and then poured out. In other words, the lined containershandle just like standard unlined tin cans.

Certain modifications of the invention as thus far described will occurand be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, instead ofusing a sack or bag of plastic material such as the sack ll, a sleeve ofthe plastic material may be used before the bottom end H of the can I0is put on. The sleeve then would extend over the opposite ends of thecylindrical wall of the can I i) and a separate piece of film would beused to form the liner for the bottom end i I of the can ii) in the samemanner that the open end of the can is lined with the separate coverliner 26. The above described method or technique of forming the linedsealed container may also be modified in obvious ways. For example,instead of placing the cover liners 2U separately over the open ends ofthe filled cans [0, these disks could be first secured to the undersideof the can covers by spots or lines of non-setting adhesive so as toretain each disk in the proper place without interfering with thesubsequent stretchin thereof during the sealing operation.

The invention lends itself to the packaging of two different materialsin a single tin can. A sealed tin can package of this type is shown inFig. '7 and indicated generally therein by the reference numeral 3d. Thepackage 30 consists of a conventional tin can 3! having the oppositeends closed with the standard double seam. The upper portion of the can3! holds one protective film sack 2?, while the lower portion of the canholds another protective film sack 28. The end walls of the can 3| areprotected with liners (not shown) which are sealed with the mouth of thebags 2i and 28 in the double seams as described above in connection withFigs. 3-6.

In forming the package 3%, tin cans are used which are open at bothends, a mold or plug is inserted in one end and then one of the bags 2or 28 is inserted in place, filled and the end closed in themanner'previously described. The

half-filled can isthen turned over, the mold re-' moved and this end isthen provided with its sack and then it is filled and closed. The bags2'! and 28 may have the same or different capacities as required.Likewise, the bags 27 and 28 may be formed of the same or differentmaterials depending upon the requirements in each case.

By way of specific example, the package 30 is particularly suited to thepackaging of photographic chemicals where two difi'erent types ofsolution are usually employed. Thus, the sack 2! may be filled with arapid fixer while sack 28 is filled with a hardener, especially suitedfor use with the fixer. It will be seen that the doubletype package, 38thus makes it possible to give the consumer both solutions in a singlepackage. The advantages of such a double package are very muchworthwhile.

There will be instances where two materials are to be packaged and onlyone needs to be isolated from the interior of the tin can while theother may be packaged in direct contact with the can interior. In thiscase the tin can, closed at the bottom, will first be partly filled withthe latter material, then the protective bag of stretch- 7 able,impervious film will be inserted in the freeboard space and this will befilled and the can sealed and closed as described above in connectionwith Figs. 3-6. This modification corresponds to the package shown inFig. '7 with one of the liner bags 21 or 28 being omitted.

Since certain further changes may be made in the foregoing containersand packages, and the method of forming and sealing the same withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it wil beunderstood that all matter described above or shown in the accompanyingdrawings is intended to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A sealed package comprising a rigid container having a sleeve memberand end wall members closing the opposite ends of said sleeve member, asack formed of stretchable impermeable film material lining said sleevemember for a part of its length with the mouth of said sack overlyingthe peripheral edge of one end of said sleeve member, a liner ofstretchable impermeable film material underlying the end wall member ofsaid container closing said one end of said sleeve member with theperipheral edge of said end liner overlying said mouth of said sack,said mouth of said sack and said peripheral edge of said end liner beingcompressed into sealed relationship at the line of seal formed betweensaid one end of said sleeve member and said end wall closing membertherefor, said sack being filled with contents which must, and will, bemaintained out of direct contact with any portion of the interior ofsaid rigid container, and the portion of the interior of said rigidcontainer not occupied by said sack being filled with contents which canbe maintained in direct contact with the interior thereof.

2. The sealed package called for in claim 1 wherein said rigid containeris a conventional tin can having the opposite end wall members sealed tothe can sleeve by standard double seam joints.

3. A combination sealed package comprising a rigid container having asleeve member and end wall members closing the opposite ends of saidsleeve member, a first sack formed of a stretchable impermeable filmmaterial lining said sleeve member for a part of its length with themargin of the mouth of said first sack overlying the peripheral edge ofone end of said sleeve member,

a liner of stretchable film material lining the end wall member of saidcontainer closing said one end of said sleeve member with the marginaledge of said end wall liner overlying said margin of the mouth of saidfirst sack, said marginal portions of said first sack and of said endwall liner being compressed into sealed relationship at the line of sealformed between said one end of said sleeve member and said end wallclosing member therefor, a second sack formed of a stretchableimpermeable film material lining the portion of said sleeve member notlined by said first sack member and having its bottom abutting thebottom of the first sack, the margin of the mouth of said second sackunderlying the peripheral edge of the other end of said sleeve member, aliner of stretchable film material lining the end wall member of saidcontainer closing said other end of said sleeve member with the marginaledge of said second end wall liner underlying said margin of the mouthof said second sack, said marginal portions of said second sack and ofsaid second end wall liner being compressed into sealed relationship atthe line of seal formed between said other end of said sleeve member andsaid end wall closing member therefor, said first and second sacks beingfilled with two difierent materials having an associated use and bothmaterials being of a nature which must be maintained out of directcontact with the interior of said rigid container.

4. The combination sealed package called for in claim 3 wherein saidrigid container is a conventional tin can having the opposite end wallmembers sealed to the can sleeve by standard double seam joints.

GEORGE T. PFEIFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 675,357 Maconochie 1- May 28, 1901 1,575,681 Grifiiths Mar. 9,1926 1,793,526 Stern Feb. 24, 1931 2,025,932 Beldin Dec. 31, 19352,036,611 Simmons Apr. '7, 1936 2,065,293 Scudder Dec. 22, 19362,078,530 Courtright et al. Apr. 27, 1937 2,102,208 Kronquest Dec. 14,1937 2,371,173 Hothersall Mar. 13, 1945

